《公民凯恩》是由奥森·威尔斯于1940年拍摄的一部传记体影片，由奥森·威尔斯担任导演、制片、编剧以及主演。曾获得1941年奥斯卡奖七项提名，并最终获得最佳原创剧本奖。影片讲述了报业大王凯恩的一生。影片以一位报业大亨凯恩之死揭开了序幕，并通过他的人生经历和事业的兴衰史，见证了一桩资本主义神话下的复杂真相。

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American drama film, directed by and starring Orson Welles. It was released by RKO Pictures, and was Welles' first feature film. The film was nominated for Academy Awards in nine categories; it won an Oscar for Best Writing (Original Screenplay). Citizen Kane was voted the greatest film of all time in five successive Sight & Sound's polls of critics, - a time span of five decades. The movie is particularly praised for its innovative cinematography, music, andnarrative structure. Many film critics consider Citizen Kane to be the best film ever made, which has led legendary critic Roger Ebert to joke: "So it's settled: Citizen Kane is the official greatest film of all time."

The story examines the life and legacy of Charles Foster Kane, played by Welles, a character based in part upon the American newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. It also follows Chicago tycoons Samuel Insull and Harold McCormick, and describes aspects of Welles' own life. Upon its release, Hearst prohibited mention of the film in any of his newspapers. Kane's career in the publishing world starts with an idea to provide a social service, but gradually evolves into a ruthless pursuit of power. The story is told mainly through flashbacks. A newsreel reporter wants to solve the mystery of the newspaper magnate's dying word: "Rosebud" and does so in showing old footage of Kane.